The sport of biathlon is under the spotlight thanks to Hāwea Flat athlete Campbell Wright, who delivered one of the best performances of his career in his Olympic debut last month.

Campbell (19), competing in the Men’s 20km Individual race, was the youngest competitor in the field.

More recently he competed at the IBU Junior Cup in Soldier Hollow, Utah, where he came sixth in the Men’s Individual Sprint (12.5km) and caught the attention of the US commentator who said he was amazed that a competitor from a nation with no real background in biathlon was doing so well.

Campbell leading the Snow Farm’s Merino Muster 2021. PHOTO: Supplied 

John Burridge (trustee of the Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust, which owns the Snow Farm, and Biathlon NZ spokesperson) has noticed an increase in interest and support for the sport in recent months.

He hopes people are taking note: John believes Wānaka has a very special opportunity in both biathlon and cross country.

“The Snow Farm, Campbell’s New Zealand home base, has ideal facilities to develop talented cross country and biathlon athletes, and pre Covid was used by Northern Hemisphere Olympic gold medallists from both sports to train out of season.”

John believes New Zealand could excel in these sports, and he would like to see a youth championship team at the Snow Farm.

He says the Snow Farm is at the right altitude and has courses that can emulate World Cup and Olympic standards, and Campbell is showing Kiwi kids where the sport can lead.

“We now have in Campbell a light to show all our youngsters the way, and it is important to realise that Campbell was the only athlete at the Youth Olympics in Geneva who competed in cross country and biathlon.” 

While biathlon is not one of the sports supported by Snowsports NZ, cross country skiing is. 

John said Campbell’s “lone wolf situation” is an opportunity for Biathlon NZ and the Snow Farm to “chart the course” for local talent.

“Snowsports have shown if you dream big enough it can happen and Campbell is demonstrating what the dream looks like,” John said.